Huntington Teenagers
Help the Homeless
Huntington can be a very comfortable place to live. It is also home to many in need. A group Huntington High School students spent every Monday night for the past four months volunteering with the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative.
The teenagers are members of a high school the high school club known by the acronym, AWOD, which is short for A World of Difference. Their work, both individually and collectively, is making a real difference in the community.
Beginning in early December and stretching into the spring, the Huntington contingent set up beds and tables, packed breakfast and lunches for the following day and served dinner for 30 HIHI participants. "They even know how to make coffee," said Suzi Biagi, a Huntington High School teacher who serves as the AWOD faculty advisor along with retired librarian Camille DeCanio.
According to the Family Service League's website, the purpose of the HIHI program "is to provide a safe, warm place to spend the night for homeless individuals who have been living outdoors in the Huntington area." More than three dozen area congregations participate in the initiative. It is open and free of charge to anyone in need of shelter for the night. The coldest months are usually the busiest of the year. Eight congregations take turns sheltering participants for the night.
The volunteer experience has been a positive one for the Huntington students. "They have gleaned a good deal of insight about themselves and the realities of a difficult financial time for many," Mrs. Biagi said. "Ask any of the volunteers and they will tell you that their own bed and pillow have never looked so good and they have never felt so fortunate."
Mrs. Biagi is no mere observer. She volunteers right along with the teenagers. "The experience of getting to know the attendees, as well as the practice of rolling up their sleeves has broadened all of the volunteers' views about our community," Mrs. Biagi said. "These kids are committed to making a difference. They have now done that for the last three years, one meal at a time. I couldn't be prouder of them. It's been a wonderful experience for all of us."